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History: American Leper Colonies


Enrichment Adult / Home -
AE 2425 Summer

We don’t think of leprosy as an “American disease”, but it was and is. Patients (often called inmates) were held as prisoners. They lost their civil rights and frequently their families. Hansen’s Disease/Leprosy destroyed lives as much through stigma as through illness. Learn how a mistranslation of the Bible was used to put people away for years, sometimes with the goal being for them to die. More importantly, learn how they coped with banishment and even found joy.

Kathleen Simmer

Kathy Simmer taught in the St. Paul Public Schools and was very interested in historical research. Upon retirement she began teaching classes on American history topics in several suburbs and for various organizations. She likes to include the details that are often left out of the history books. 

Kathy's portion of the class fee is donated to the Alzheimer's Association or the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research.  Thank you.

 June 2025 
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0521-904

  Kathleen Simmer


Normandy Park Education Center : 153 Senior Center
Friday, Jun 20
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

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$ 18.00
per person